Sunnyvale: City council signs off on study for transit-oriented development at Moffett Park

At the request of developer the Jay Paul Company, the city of Sunnyvale will explore changing sections of Moffett Park from industrial to transit-oriented development after the city council voted in favor of a new study on Nov. 20.

The prominent developer, known for the Moffett Towers project, approached city staff with a proposal to develop 10 parcels, two of which are already zoned for transit-oriented development. In order to qualify for TOD zoning, a minimum of 50 percent of the parcel must be located within a quarter-mile of a light rail station or have direct access to the station.

By rezoning for TOD, the allowable floor area ratio would change from a range of 35-50 percent to 50-70 percent, and a green building incentive program would allow an additional 10 percent of floor area ratio.

The project would include six eight-story buildings, a three-level parking garage and a proposed public right of way to connect N. Mathilda Avenue to Bordeaux Drive. The project would be about 300,000 square feet more than what is allowed under the city's General Plan.

By building amenities for employees, Paul said he hopes to keep them on site to help lessen the traffic impact.

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Councilman Chris Moylan argued that office development has been too aggressive in the past few years, saying the city's projections in office development have reached "110 percent" of the city's intended level of development through 2025.

"We are significantly ahead," Moylan said at the Nov. 20 meeting. "And once again, we see a request coming to us to modify the General Plan with a project sitting right next to it. We're not supposed to be doing General Plan amendments based on who proposes a project; that's just bad planning.

"It is something council never used to do, and over the last few years we've been doing it rampantly. We've lost our way."

Both Mayor Tony Spitaleri and Councilman Jim Davis reminded their fellow council members that the matter was a study issue, and a final vote would not be taken on the project.

"As many times before, my colleagues have reminded me that this is a study," Davis said. "It's a matter of gathering facts."

The final vote was 5-2, with Councilman Pat Meyering and Moylan dissenting.

The results of the project review and environmental analysis will be presented to the planning commission and city council at a later date.